02/07/2019
Hebrews 12:18-19,
21-24 Brothers and sisters: You have
not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy
darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that
those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. Indeed, so
fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, "I am terrified and
trembling." No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the
assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the
spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,
and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.
I would like to put forward a
political theory that will taste unpalatable to the practicioners of both
parties, to Democrats and Republicans alike. I am convinced the real genius of
American politics is the existence of the two party system, not a one party
system. Why is two better than one? Well, no one party has the corner on truth,
justice, public welfare, the common good, morality, or prudence. In some
matters the Democrats hit the mark, on other issues, however, the Republicans
are spot on. That’s why after 4 or 8 years, we get rid of the incumbent and
welcome the challenger. We needed a Republican like Abraham Lincoln to lead us
safely through the Civil War. On the other hand, we depended on a Democrat like
Franklin Roosevelt to guide us through the Great Depression. American politics
is like a great pendulum that swings back and forth between Republican and
Democrat. The American people benefit because we get the best of both worlds.
The swing of the pendulum from one side to the other produces truth, justice
and the American way.
Something similar happens in the
Catholic Church’s contentious annulment process, where we discover a pendulum
of justice in marriage cases. My job on the marriage tribunal is called “the
defender of the bond.” My job is to raise all the reasons why the couple should
not receive the annulment. My role is also sometimes called “the devil’s
advocate.” Why do we even have such a position like defender of the bond? Isn’t
that just slowing down the whole process? Well, the truth of the validity or
invalidity of a marriage can only rise to the surface in the back and forth of
the argumentation, the pros and cons, the yays and the nays, with the pendulum
swinging between an affirmative and negative decision. The Greek philosopher
Aristotle taught, “in medio stat virtus” – virtue stands in the middle. But we
can only find the middle if we see the pendulum swing to both sides.
The Letter to the Hebrews creates a
clear contrast between the Old Testament and the New Testament. It insists that
the law of Moses was inferior to the law of Christ. We read: “You have not
approached that which could be touched, and a blazing fire and gloomy
darkness…Indeed so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, ‘I am terrified
and trembling’.” That was the old covenant ratified on Mt. Sinai, filled with
fear. Hebrews continues, though, “No, you have approached Mt. Zion, and the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…and Jesus, the mediator of the
new covenant.” In other words, the covenant in Christ’s blood is vastly
superior to the covenant sealed in the blood of cattle, sheep and goats (the
old sacrifices), a covenant of peace.
But does that mean we can stop
reading the Old Testament because it is so old-fashioned and obsolete, and no
longer applies to us? Not at all. Indeed, I would suggest to you that the whole
bible is like a spiritual pendulum that swings between the Old Testament and
the New Testament, like American presidents swing between Democrats and
Republicans. That’s why we read from books in the Old Testament as well as from
books in the New Testament at Mass. Our spiritual eyes should see a huge
pendulum swinging like a thurible billowing out the incense, the smoke and
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that inspired the writers of the
both Testaments will inspire us as we read and reflect on both, not just one.
This paradigm of the pendulum has
some practical implications for every day Christian living, too. Some spouses struggle
to see each other’s point of view. Sometimes they think their opinion is so
right that they have a corner on the truth. But frequently the female
perspective is valuable but so is the male viewpoint, and it’s the swing of the
pendulum between both that hits the target. But if one spouse stubbornly
insists that I’m always right and you’re a moron, then the pendulum stops
swinging. And they will probably come to see me in the marriage tribunal for an
annulment. We can apply this paradigm of the pendulum to interactions with
coworkers with whom we disagree. The secret is in the swinging of the pendulum.
Some Catholics may like Pope Benedict (who was conservative), while others
prefer Pope Francis (who seems liberal). But the secret is the swinging of the
pendulum. Some may like Fr. Stephen because he is young, but others like Fr.
John because he is…wise. But the secret is in the swinging of the pendulum.
May the Holy Spirit, who inspires
the swinging of the pendulum in so many circumstances, inspire all of us to
seek the truth together!
Praised be Jesus Christ!
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